From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Vijayapura, Jun 22: Medium And Large Scale Industries Minister M B Patil said on Thursday that he would visit New Delhi in the first week of July to meet union ministers to discuss industrial development in the state.

Speaking to press persons at his residence in Vijayapura, he said the road map which has been in preparation will be ready by July 27.

He said he would be meeting union ministers to discuss various industrial projects and proposed initiatives.

When asked about concerns raised by industry bodies about a recent hike in power tariff, Patil said he would discuss the matter with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Minister for Power K J George.

Appealing industrialists to cooperate, the Minister said the hike in power tariff is the decision of KERC which is an independent body and has nothing to do with the government's decision.

The hike was decided during BJPs tenure well before the Congress government assumed office, he added.

Patil criticised the union government for not supplying rice to the state through FCI. Saying, the union government is making politics over rice meant for distributing to poor people, he said that they were not asking it for free of cost.